Validation Rule

A Validation Rule in CRM is a configured logical expression that evaluates data entered by a user against defined criteria and prevents the record from being saved if the conditions are not met — displaying an error message that guides the user to provide the required or correctly formatted information. Validation rules are the enforcement mechanism of data standards: they ensure that a close date cannot be in the past, that a discount percentage does not exceed a defined maximum, that required fields are populated before a deal advances to the next stage, or that a phone number follows a valid format. Well-designed validation rules improve data quality without creating unnecessary friction — they should enforce genuine business requirements, not bureaucratic constraints that users will actively seek to circumvent.